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Vol.2 contains the following plays - the Jew of Malta, Edward the Second, the Massacre at Paris, the Tradegy of Dido.

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CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

PUBLISHER'S NOTICE

Four hundard copies of this Edition have been printed and the type distributed. No more will be published.

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THE JEW OF MALTA.

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Of the Jew of Malta there is no earlier edition than the 4to. of 1633, which was published under the auspices of the well-known dramatist Thomas Heywood. The title is:—The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Iew of Malta. As it was playd before the King and Queene, in His Majesties Theatre at White-Hall, by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit. Written by Christopher Marlo. London: Printed by I. B. for Nicholas Vavasour, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Inner-Temple, neere the Church. 1633. No later 4to, appeared.

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to
my worthy friend,
MASTER THOMAS HAMMON,of gray's inn, &c.

This play, composed by so worthy an author as Mr. Marlowe, and the part of the Jew presented by so unimitable an actor as Mr. Alleyn, being in this later age commended to the stage; as I ushered it unto the Court, and presented it to the Cock-pit, with these prologues and epilogues here inserted, so now being newly brought to the press, I was loth it should be published without the ornament of an Epistle; making choice of you unto whom to devote it; than whom (of all those gentlemen and acquaintance, within the compass of my long knowledge) there is none more able to tax ignorance, or attribute right to merit. Sir, you have been pleased to grace some of mine own works with your courteous patronage;l I hope this will not be the worse accepted, because commended by me; over whom, none can claim more power or privilege than yourself. I had no better a new-year's gift to present you with; receive it therefore as a continuance of that inviolable obligement, by which, he rests still engaged; who as he ever hath, shall always remain,

'Faith, walking the back-lanes, through the gardens, I chanced to cast mine eye up to the Jew's counting-house, where I saw some bags of money, and in the night I clambered up with my hooks, and, as I was taking my choice, I heard a rumbling in the house; so I took only this, and run my way: but here's the Jew's man.24

SCENE IV.

I think so, but yet I cannot tell; for at the reading of the letter he look'd like a man of another world.

Bell.

Why so?

Pilia.

That such a base slave as he should be saluted by such a tall man as I am, from such a beautiful dame as you.12

Bell.

And what said he?

Pilia.

Not a wise word, only gave me a nod, as who should say, “Is it even so?” and so I left him, being driven to a non-plus at the critical aspect of my terrible countenance.

Bell.

And where didst meet him?

Pilia.

Upon mine own freehold, within forty feet of the gallows, conning his neck-verse,2 I take it, looking of a friar's execution, whom I saluted with an old hempen proverb, Hodie tibi, cras mihi, and so I left him to the
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mercy of the hangman: but the exercise1 being done, see where he comes.24

EnterIthamore.

Itha.

I never knew a man take his death so patiently as this friar; he was ready to leap off ere the halter was about his neck; and when the hangman had put on his hempen tippet, he made such haste to his prayers, as if he had had another cure to serve; well, go whither he will, I'll be none of his followers in haste: and, now I think on't, going to the execution, a fellow met me with a muschatoes2 like a raven's wing, and a dagger with a hilt like a warming-pan, and he gave me a letter from one Madam Bellamira, saluting me in such sort as if he had meant to make clean my boots with his lips; the effect was, that I should come to her house. I wonder what the reason is; it may be she sees more in me than I can find in myself: for she writes further, that she loves me ever since she saw me, and who would not requite such love? Here's her house, and here she comes, and now would I were gone; I am not worthy to look upon her.41

Pilia.

This is the gentleman you writ to.

Itha.

Gentleman! he flouts me; what gentry can be in a poor Turk of tenpence?3 I'll be gone.

EDWARD THE SECOND.

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Edward II. was entered in the Stationers' Books 6th July 1593. In the Dyce Library at South Kensington there is a 4to. with a MS. title-page (in a hand of the late seventeenth century) dated 1593. Without doubt the date 1593 is a copyist's mistake for 1598. In the first leaf, which is in MS., there are a few textual differences, due to the copyist's carelessness; but the printed matter throughout (A. 3—K. 2) exhibits the text of ed. 1598.

In 1876 an edition of Edward II. in 8vo., dated 1594, was discovered in the library at Cassel. The title is:—The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second, King of England: with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer. As it was sundri times publiquely acted in the honourable citie of London, by the right honourable the Earl of Pembroke his servants. Written by Chri. Marlow Gent. Imprinted at London for William fones, dwelling neare Holborne conduit at the Signe of the Gunne, 1594.

The title of the 4to. of 1598 runs as follows:—The troublesome The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second, King of England, with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer. And also the life and death of Pers Gaueston, the great Earle of Cornewall, and mightly favorite of king Edward the second, as it was publiquely acted by the right honorable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruauntes. Written by Chri. Marlow Gent. Imprinted at London by Richard Bradocke, for William fones, dwelling neere Holbourne conduit, at the signe of the Gunne, 1598.

Another edition (in 4to,) appeared in 1612, with the following title:—The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second, King of England: with the tragicall fall of proud Mortimer. And also the life and death of Pers Gaueston, the great Earle of Cornewall, and mighty jauorite of King Edward the second, as it
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was publiquely acted by the right honorable the Earle of Pembrooke his seruants. Written by Christopher Marlow Gent. Printed at London for Roger Barnes, and are to be sould at his shop in Chauncere Lane ouer against the Rolles, 1612.

The last of the old editions is dated 1622:— The troublesome raigne and lamentable death of Edward the second, King of England: with the Tragicall fall of proud Mortimer. And also the life and death of Pers Gauestone, the great Earle of Cornewall, and mighty Fauorite of King Edward the second. As it was publikely Acted by the late Queenes Maiesties Seruants at the Red Bull in S. fohns streete. Written by Christopher Marlow Gent. London, Printed for Henry Bell, and are to be sold at his Shop, at the Lame-hospitall Gate, neere Smuthfield, 1622.

The text of the 1598 4to., which is fairly free from corruptions, differs but slightly from the texts of the two later 4tos. I have not had an opportunity of inspecting the 8vo. of 1594; but I suspect that it agrees very closely with the later copies.

“My duty to your honour premised, &c., I have, according to instructions in that behalf, dealt with the King of France his lords, and effected, that the queen, all discontented and discomforted, is gone. Whither, if you ask, with Sir John of Hainault, brother to the marquis, into Flanders with them are gone Lord Edmund, and the Lord Mortimer, having in their company divers of your nation, and others; and, as constant report goeth, they intend to give King Edward battle in England, sooner than he can look for them: this is all the news of import.

THE MASSACRE AT PARIS.

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OfThe Massacre at Paris there is only one early edition, an un-dated 8vo. (printed circ. 1596?) The title is:—

The Massacre at Paris With the death of the Duke of Guise. As it was plaide by the right honourable the Lord high Admirall his Servants. Written by Christopher Marlowe. At London Printed by E. A. for Edward White, dwelling neere the little North doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gun.

SCENE XIV.

Trumpets sound within, and a cry of “Vive le Roi” two or three times. Enter1Anjoucrowned as King Henry the Third; Catherinethe Queen-Mother, theCardinalofLorraine, Guise, Epernoun, Mugeroun, the Cutpurse, and others.

SCENE XIX.

Sir, to you, sir, that dares make the duke a
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cuckold, and use a counterfeit key to his privy-chamber-door; and although you take out nothing but your own, yet you put in that which displeaseth him, and so forestall his market, and set up your standing where you should not; and whereas he is your landlord, you will take upon you to be his, and till the ground that he himself should occupy, which is his own free land; if it be not too free -there's the question; and though I come not to take possession (as I would I might!), yet I mean to keep you out; which I will, if this gear hold.11